Transition order and dynamics of a model with competing exchange and dipolar interactions

We performed Monte Carlo simulation of phase transitions from isotropic stripe phase with short-range order to long-range stripe phase in a model with competing ferromagnetic exchange and antiferromagnetic dipolar interactions on triangular lattice. We calculated phase diagram for different values of exchange and dipolar interaction constants ratio, η. We also determined the order of the transitions to stripe phases AFh of different stripe widths h: first-order phase transition was found to transitions into AF1 and AF2 phases, while transitions to AF3 and AF4 phases were of the second order. In the phase diagram the tricritical point was determined at the AF2 and AF3 phase boundary. We observed the peak of nematic phase at the transition region to the AF1 phase, but found it metastable at low values of η. We have also found that in AF1 phase spin relaxation corresponds to the Ising model dynamics. In phases AF3 and AF4 the dynamics slows down, and stripe domain growth with time is proportional to logt.     

Distinct critical fluctuations and molecular motions manifest in a model biomembrane

Lattice dynamics in bis-(n-C₁₆H₃₇NH₃)₂SnCl₆, where the hydrocarbon part is analogous to lipid membrane, was investigated by means of 200 MHz ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance. As a result, critical fluctuations and molecular dynamics associated with the phase transitions, an order-disorder and a conformational phase transition, were distinguished in a wide temperature range. The dynamical origin of the critical fluctuations, observed in the long-chain compounds but not in the short-chain compounds, by the laboratory frame spin-lattice relaxation measurements, is revealed and discussed in this work.     

2H nuclear magnetic resonance study of deuterated water dynamics in perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer Nafion

We have employed deuteron nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in order to study the dynamics of the deuterated water (D₂O) molecules introduced into a perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer Nafion (NR-211) film. According to the ²H NMR spectral analysis, the deuterated water molecules at low temperatures occupied either relatively rigid or mobile sites up to the temperature T_M=240 K where all the deuterated water molecules became mobile. The temperature-dependent NMR linewidths sensitively reflected the motional narrowing of the rigid and mobile sites, and the NMR chemical shift reflected significant changes in the hydrogen bonds of the deuterated water. While a slow- to fast-limit motional transition was manifested at T_M in the laboratory-frame NMR spin–lattice relaxation, the rotating-frame spin–lattice relaxation indicated no bulk liquid water state down to 200 K.     

Differential thermal analysis of the field induced phase transitions of (TMTSF)2ClO4 above 1.2 K

We present some results of a differential thermal analysis of the magnetic field induced phase transitions in the organic conductor (TMTSF)₂ClO₄ above 1.2 K. This study shows that transitions between different spin density wave states are first order and that the total entropy change involved in the two detected transitions (in the temperature range 1.2–2 K) is close to that of the quasi-one-dimensional electron gas. Above 2 and 4.2 K, only a single transition has been detected in our measurements. The entropy of that transition decreases and extrapolates to zero near 5 K. We present some arguments suggesting that if longitudinal nesting (2k_F, 0, 0) is to take place in the semi-metallic SDW phase at high fields it exists only above 2 K or so.     

Linear optical anisotropy and domain structures at two successive antiferromagnetic phase transitions in α-MnS

Two successive antiferromagnetic phase transitions of α-MnS are confirmed to occur at T_C1 = 152.7 K and T_C2 = 129.5 K, respectively, by microscopic observations of T domain formation and rearrangement, linear birefringence (LB), optical absorption and linear dichroism (LD) measurements. Stress experiments and X-ray data reveal a rhombohedral lattice contraction below T_C1, which switches into a trigonal elongation below T_C2. The second-order transition at T_C1 (β = 0.40) is proposed to yield the familiar fcc type-2 single axis spin order of NiO and MnO, whereas a multispin axis structure seems to be achieved via a first-order transition below T_C2. Model calculations of the exchange striction essentially agree with the observed lattice distortions, whereas neutron diffraction data are less conclusive with respect to the proposed spin structure transformation. The interdependence of LB and LD is shown via dispersion relations and a Kramers-Kronig analysis involving the d-d transitions of Mn²⁺ in the visible region.     

New phase transition in (CnH2n+1NH3)2MnCl4

(C_nH_2n+1NH₃)₂MnCl₄ consist of perovskite-type layers sandwiched between hydrocarbon radical layers. New phase transitions were found between liquid nitrogen and decomposition temperature in these compounds by differential thermal analysis and hot stage microscopy. A systematic research of the lattice dynamics, the transition mechanisms, their influence on physical properties and their dependence on the various possibilities of molecular engineering offered in these quasi two-dimensional perovskites was started.     

Pseudospin approach for planar ferromagnets

A pseudospin approach is developed for the study of quantum spin systems. The method is based on generalized coherent states in the symmetric representations of the unitary algebra U(2s+1), where s is the total spin at each site, and on the associated Holstein-Primakoff theory. A systematic 1/n éxpansion is derived which enables one to study magnets with weak as well as strong single-site anisotropies. While the method applies to a variety of quantum spin systems in arbitrary lattice dimensions, particular emphasis is placed here on the spin-1 planar ferromagnetic chain observed in CsNiF₃. The 1/n expansion for that system yields a twofold spectrum of elementary excitations, the usual magnon and a collective mode. It is also found that a sharp crossover transition occurs for intermediate couplings in analogy with the Gross-Witten third-order transition in the large-n limit of simple gauge models.     

NMR study of guanidinium cation dynamics in C(NH2)3SbCl6

Proton NMR second moment and spin—lattice relaxation times T ₁ and T _1p have been studied for polycrystalline guanidinium hexachloroantimonate C(NH₂)₃SbCl₆ in a wide temperature range. A dynamic inequivalence of two cations has been detected in spite of their crystal-lographical equivalence. Activation parameters for C₃ reorientation and self-diffusion of the more mobile cation have been determined. It was shown that the para–ferroelastic phase transition at 351 K is connected with abrupt changes in the dynamics of the two cations. The weaker, second-order transition at 265 K is thought to be related to a change in the dynamics of one of the cations.     

1H nuclear magnetic resonance study of mixed-valent dodecylamine-intercalated vanadium oxide nanosheets

Alkyl-chain dynamics in the mixed-valent dodecylamine-intercalated vanadium oxide nanosheets (C12VONS) was investigated by means of 400-MHz ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance. Two C12VONS samples with distinct alkylammonium-to-alkylamine ratios showed distinct alkyl-chain dynamics, the alkylammonium chains being apparently more disordered than the alkylamine chains. The high-temperature spin–lattice relaxation is dominated by the conformational chain defects and the reorientational motions of the alkyl chains, respectively, in the alkylammonium-abundant system and in the alkylamine-abundant system. The reorientational and conformational changes of the alkyl chains appear to be uncorrelated with the magnetic transitions.     

Microwave magnetoabsorption in the CeAl<Subscript>2</Subscript> magnetic Kondo lattice at low temperatures

The magnetic phase diagram of the CeAl₂ magnetic Kondo lattice was studied using microwave magnetoabsorption spectroscopy at frequencies of 37–118 GHz, temperatures of 1.8–4.6 K, and magnetic fields of up to 70 kOe. The observed anomalies in magnetoabsorption, when combined with the change in the carrier scattering pattern in (established in galvanomagnetic measurements) CeAl₂ near H*≈35 kOe at liquid-helium temperatures, suggest that this compound undergoes a sequence of magnetic transitions accompanied by strong spin fluctuations. The nature of the magnetic phases and the mechanisms driving the phase transformations in CeAl₂ are discussed.     

H NMR study of the phase transitions of trissarcosine calcium chloride single crystals at low temperature

The ¹H NMR line-width and spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ of TSCC single crystals were studied. Variations in the temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time were observed near 65 and 130 K, indicating drastic alterations of the spin dynamics at the phase transition temperatures. The changes in the temperature dependence of T₁ near 65 and 130 K correspond to phase transitions of the crystal. The anomalous decrease in T₁ around 130 K is due to the critical slowing down of the soft mode. The abrupt change in relaxation time at 65 K is associated with a structural phase transition. The proton spin-lattice relaxation time of this crystal also has a minimum value in the vicinity of 185 K, which is governed by the reorientation of the CH₃ groups of the sarcosine molecules. From this result, we conclude that the two phase transitions at 65 and 130 K can be discerned from abrupt variations in the ¹H NMR relaxation behavior, and that ¹H nuclei play important roles in the phase transitions of the TSCC single crystal.     

Birefringence,X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements on the structural phase transitions of (CH3NH3)2 MnCl4 and (CH3NH3)2FeCl4

We used optical birefringence, X-ray and neutron diffraction methods with single crystals to study the structural phase transitions of the perowskite-type layer structures of (CH₃NH₃)₂MeCl₄ with Me=Mn, Fe. The Mn-compound shows the following structural transitions at 394 K — a continuous order-disorder phase transition from tetragonal symmetry $\text{I4}\text{mmm}$ to orthorhombic space group Abma (Cmca in reference 10); at 257 K — a discontinuous transition to a second tetragonal modification; at 95 K — a discontinuous transition to a monoclinic phase. For the Fe-compound the corresponding transition temperatures are 328 K and 231 K, respectively. A low temperature monoclinic phase could not be observed. The lattice parameters of the different modifications were determined as a function of temperature. The temperature dependent course of the order parameter has been investigated for the order—disorder transition. For both compounds, all the methods used gave the same value for the critical exponent of β = 0.315.     

Behavior of the antiferromagnetic phase transition near the fermion condensation quantum phase transition in YbRh2Si2

Low-temperature specific-heat measurements on YbRh₂Si₂ at the second order antiferromagnetic (AF) phase transition reveal a sharp peak at TN=72 mK. The corresponding critical exponent α turns out to be α=0.38, which differs significantly from that obtained within the framework of the fluctuation theory of second order phase transitions based on the scale invariance, where α?0.1. We show that under the application of magnetic field the curve of the second order AF phase transitions passes into a curve of the first order ones at the tricritical point leading to a violation of the critical universality of the fluctuation theory. This change of the phase transition is generated by the fermion condensation quantum phase transition. Near the tricritical point the Landau theory of second order phase transitions is applicable and gives α?1/2. We demonstrate that this value of α is in good agreement with the specific-heat measurements.     

Proton NMR study of molecular dynamics and phase transitions in methylammonium hexachloro plumbate, [NH3CH3]2PbCl6

Proton spin lattice relaxation time (T₁), measured as a function of temperature in the range 375–77 K, shows slope changes at 333, 221 and 111 K, in addition to a first order phase transition at 150K. The observed T₁ behaviour and second moment (M₂) variation with temperature are explained on the basis of the different possible motions of CH₃ and NH₃ groups.     

Spin dynamics in LiCu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> and NaCu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> low-dimensional helical magnets

Comprehensive NMR investigation of low-frequency spin dynamics of LiCu₂O₂ (LCO) and NaCu₂O₂ (NCO) low-dimensional helical magnets in the paramagnetic state has been carried out for the first time. Temperature dependences of the spin–lattice relaxation rate and anisotropy on various LCO/NCO nuclei have been determined at various orientations of single crystals in an external magnetic field. The spatial asymmetry of spin fluctuations in LCO multiferroic has been discovered. The quantitative analysis of the anisotropy of spin–lattice relaxation in LCO/NCO has allowed estimating the contributions of individual neighboring Cu²⁺ ions to the transferred hyperfine field on Li⁺(Na⁺) ions.     

EPR Study of Sc<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>5</Subscript>:Nd<Superscript>143</Superscript> Isotopically Pure Impurity Crystals

The Sc₂SiO₅ single crystals doped with 0.001 at.% of the ¹⁴³Nd³⁺ ion were studied by continuous-wave and pulse electron paramagnetic resonance methods. The g-tensors and hyperfine structure tensors for two magnetically non-equivalent Nd ions were obtained. The spin–spin and spin–lattice relaxation times were measured at 9.82 GHz in the temperature range from 4 to 10 K. It was established that three relaxation processes contribute to the spin–lattice relaxation processes. There are one-phonon spin–phonon interaction, two-phonon Raman interaction and two-phonon Orbach–Aminov relaxation processes. It was established that spin–spin relaxation time is of the same magnitude for neodymium ion doped in Sc₂SiO₅ and in Y₂SiO₅.     

Charge density wave transition in Na2Ti2Sb2O probed by 23Na NMR

Herein we investigated the electronic properties of layered transition-metal oxides Na2Ti2Sb2O by23Na nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)measurement.The resistivity,susceptibility and specific heat measurements show a phase transition at approximately 114 K(TA).No splitting or broadening in the central line of23Na NMR spectra is observed below and above the transition temperature indicating no internal field being detected.The spin-lattice relaxation rate divided by T(1/T1T)shows a sharp drop at about 110 K which suggests a gap opening behavior.Below the phase transition temperature zone,1/T1T shows Fermi liquid behavior but with much smaller value indicating the loss of large part of electronic density of states(DOS)because of the gap.No signature of the enhancement of spin fluctuations or magnetic order is found with the decreasing temperature.These results suggest a commensurate charge-density-wave(CDW)phase transition occurring.     

Phase transitions in the 2D J 1-J 2 Heisenberg model with arbitrary signs of exchange interactions

The ground state of the J ₁-J ₂ Heisenberg model with arbitrary signs of exchange is studied for spin S = 1/2 in the case of the two-dimensional (2D) square lattice. The states with different types of spin long-range order (antiferromagnetic checkerboard, stripe, collinear ferromagnetic) as well as the disordered spin liquid states are described in the framework of one analytical approach. In particular, it is shown that the phase transition between the ferromagnetic spin liquid and the ferromagnet with long-range order is of the second order. In the vicinity of such transition, we have found the ferromagnetic state with a rapidly varying condensate function.     

Dynamic magnetic properties in the kinetic mixed spin-2 and spin-5/2 Ising model under a time-dependent magnetic field

We extend the recent paper [W. Jiang, V-C. Lo, B-D. Bai, J. Yang, Physica A 389 (2010) 2227-2233] to present a study, within a mean-field approach, the dynamic magnetic properties of the mixed spin-2 and spin-5/2 Ising ferrimagnetic system, which corresponds the molecular-based magnetic materials AFe^IIFe^III(C₂O₄)₃ [ A=N(n-C_nH_2n+1)₄, n=3-5], by using the Glauber-type stochastic dynamics. This mixed Ising ferrimagnetic system is used on a layered honeycomb lattice in which Fe^II (S=5/2) and Fe^III (σ=2) occupy sites. First, we investigate the time variations of average order parameters to find the phases in the system and then the thermal behavior of the dynamic order parameters to obtain the dynamic phase transition (DPT) points as well as to characterize the nature (first-or second-order) phase transitions. We also present the dynamic phase diagrams and study the dynamic magnetic hysteresis loop behaviors of the kinetic mixed spin-2 and spin-5/2 Ising ferrimagnetic system. The results are compared with some experimental and theoretical works and a good overall agreement is found.     

Magnetic properties of high-T c superconductors from NQR and NMR measurements

NMR and NQR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation measurements carried out in LASCO and YBCO-type crystals are presented and analyzed in order to derive insights on the correlations and spin-dynamics of the Cu²⁺ ions and on the microscopic mechanisms of high-T _c superconductivity. As an illustrative example on how the magnetic correlation length and spin dynamics properties can be extracted from the relaxation rateW, the³⁵Cl NMR data in the two-dimensional Heisenberg system Sr₂CuCl₂O₂, around the paramagnetic-antiferromagnetic (PA-AF) transition are first considered. Then the¹³⁹La NQR relaxation measurements in La_2?xSr_xCuO₄ are briefly reviewed and it is shown how a simple picture of localized Cu²⁺ magnetic moments, whose spin fluctuation times are controlled by the charge defects induced by the doping, leads in a direct way to quantitative estimates for the progressive shift, on cooling, of the spectral density of the low-frequency spin excitations towards the high frequency range. This phenomenon can be described in terms of effective spin at the Cu²⁺ ions, and its similarities with the analogous effect of progressive delocalization in Heavy Fermions systems are pointed out. Thus, the superconducting transition appears to occur in an unconventional Fermi liquid with AF correlations among itinerant pseudoparticles, possibly involving a mechanism not directly related to the magnetic correlated dynamics. In fact, a universal behavior of the relaxation rates as a function of temperature is observed, regardless of the transition temperatureT _c. The independence ofT _c from the low frequency static and dynamical spin properties is also indicated by⁸⁹Y Knight shifts and from⁶³Cu relaxation rates in systems like YBa₂Cu₄O₈ (Y124), whereT _c can be changed by atomic substitutions and by controlling the oxygen stoichiometry. The effect of an external magnetic field on the correlated spin dynamics of the AF Fermi liquid is investigated and from a comparison of Cu NQR relaxation and NMR relaxation in oriented powder of YBCO and LASCO it is shown that the external field has the small but unambiguous effect of depressing the relaxation rates aboveT _c, besides strongly enhancing them in the superconducting phase. A maximum in the ratio \({{W\left( {NQR} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{W\left( {NQR} \right)} {W\left( {\vec H\left\| {\vec c} \right.} \right)}}} \right. \kern-0em} {W\left( {\vec H\left\| {\vec c} \right.} \right)}}\) is thus observed around 80 K, either in LASCO or in YBCO, again indicating that the transition could be driven by a mechanism not directly involving the spin dynamic properties. To study the role of the fluxions belowT _c ⁸⁹Y NMR shifts and spectra in oriented powders of YBCO are analyzed. Information on the spin susceptibility and on the structure of the vortex lattice is obtained. In addition, from the temperature behavior of the linewidth a motional narrowing related to flux melting is evidenced. The effective correlation time for the vortex motion is derived and it is discussed why μ⁺SR cannot detect it in view of the different rigid-lattice line broadening.